So You Think You Can Dance is undergoing some pretty significant changes for its upcoming seventh season, but the absence of choreographer/judge Mia Michaels will not be one of them. Michaels announced last fall that she wouldn’t be returning for theÂ FOX dance competition‘s seventh season, but then was spotted earlier this year at the New York City auditions. Now, SYTYCD executive producer Nigel Lythgoe announces that not only will Michaels return, she’s taking a permanent seat at the judging panel to replace Mary Murphy. Keep reading for more details…

Mia Michaels is back for the seventh season ofÂ So You Think You Can Dance and she’ll be around all season long! The eccentric and award-winning choreographer was planning to leave theÂ FOX dance competition, but apparently changed her mind. Not only will she be appearing on the seventh season, she’ll be serving as a permanent judge on the panel. Â FOX announced last week that Michaels would replace choreographer/judge/resident crazy person, Mary Murphy, on the judging panel.

Mia Michaels and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe will be joined on theÂ So You Think You Can Dance judging panel by choreographer and film director, Adam Shankman. Fans of Mary Murphy and her hot tamale train need not mourn her loss completely. Lythgoe confirms that while she won’t be a resident judge, Murphy will appear as a guest choreographer on the seventh season. “Mary Murphy is a fabulous judge. She knows what she’s talking about and she speaks from the heart,” Lythgoe says.

The seventh season ofÂ So You Think You Can Dance returns toÂ FOX on May 27th. Instead of the typical 20 performers, the show will only feature 10 dancers who will be accompanied each week by finalists from previous seasons.